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Until the end of the 18th century the roads within Aberdeenshire were exceedingly poor
and ill-maintained. A system existed, from 1669, whereby all labourers in the county were
required to spend six days each year working, without payment, to repair the roads.
However, this system did not appear to work very well. In fact, better road
maintenance existed in areas where the tenants paid for the privilege of not
working on the roads, and the resultant funds were used to hire professional labourers.

The expansion of farming, and rural industry, of the latter part of the eighteenth
century, demanded better transport facilities. In 1793 the Turnpike Bill
was passed, which provided the legislation for the construction of toll roads.

The first toll road was constructed along the north bank of the Dee, for a distance of
13 miles, and was completed in 1798.

Over the next forty years, 17 turnpike roads were constructed along all the radial
routes leading to Aberdeen. These were (in roughly clockwise - not chronological
order):

the north Deeside road, through Cults, Peterculter, Banchory and Aboyne to Braemar (the
present day A93 road).

via Echt and Midmar to Tarland (present day A974), with a branch from Garlogie to
Kincardine O'Neil (B977), and another branch from Skene to Alford (A944). This
branch was later extended to Mossat and then (A97) by Glenkindie and Strathdon to join General
Wade's road at Corgarff (A939).

the Post road, from Aberdeen to Inverness (A96). Leaving Aberdeen by Bucksburn,
Tyrebagger Hill, Blackburn, Kintore, Inverurie, Glens of Foudland and Huntly. There
were branches from Huntly to Banff (A97) and to Portsoy (B9022).

the Insch and Kennethmont road (A979) which leaves the Huntly road near Pittodrie and
goes via Oyne, Premnay, Insch and Kennethmont, joining the Strathbogie road near to the
Tap O'Noth.

the west Foudland road (present day - unclassified), which leaves the Huntly road at
Bridge of Ledikin and goes by Insch and Dunnydeer to rejoin the Huntly road at Sliach in
Drumblade.

the Kintore to Alford road, which leaves the Huntly road at Torryburn, Kintore and runs
to Kemnay (B994), then via Cluny and Monymusk to Tillyfourie (B993), there joining the
main Alford road. Also a branch from Kemnay to Port Elphinstone (Inverurie).

the Inverurie to Forgue road (B9001), which goes by Daviot, Wartle and Rothienorman to
join the Huntly - Banff road at Forgue.

the Aberdeen to Banff road (A947), which leaves Aberdeen at Bucksburn, then via Dyce,
NewMachar, Old Meldrum, Fyvie, Turriff and King Edward to Banff with a short branch to
Macduff.

the Old Meldrum to Colpy road (B9000), via Wartle and Culsalmond to Colpy on the main
Huntly road.

the Peterhead road, leaving Aberdeen via Bridge of Don (A92), then via Belhelvie, Ellon,
Birness and Cruden (A952) to Peterhead, with a branch to Mintlaw (A950) and via Rathen to
Fraserburgh (A92).

the Buchan road, from Peterhead to Banff, via Longside, Mintlaw and New Pitsligo (A950),
to Macduff (A98) and Banff.

the Boyndlie road, from Fraserburgh via Tyrie and Aberdour (A98) joining the Buchan road
two miles north of New Pitsligo.

Fraserburgh to Strichen road (A981) with a branch to New Pitsligo (B9093).

Newburgh to Old Meldrum, via Foveran, Udny and Pitmedden (B9000).

the Udny and Tarves road (B999) which leaves the Aberdeen - Ellon road at North Murcar
and goes via Belhelvie, Whitecairns, Udny and Pitmedden to Tarves and Methlick.

When the Aberdeen - Inverness road opened in 1820, a four horse stage coach served the
route, taking 18 hours to complete the journey (104 miles).

As can be seen by the present day road numbering, virtually all these routes have
survived as major roads. However, their existence as toll roads was less successful.
Although by 1857 there were 450 miles of turnpikes and 84 toll gates, the revenue
never repaid the original outlay and the ongoing maintenance. The subsequent rapid
expansion of the railway network altered the pattern of road usage,
and by 1866 the roads were brought under public ownership and the toll gates dismantled.

There was only one canal in Aberdeenshire - the Aberdeen - Inverurie canal.
Opened in 1805, this canal was 18¼ miles long and operated for more than 40 years
with barges carrying fertiliser and coal inland and returning with agricultural
produce. Passengers were carried in "Flyboats" drawn by two horses which
managed to achieve a speed of eight miles per hour. The canal was never a financial
success and in 1845, it was bought by the Great North of Scotland Railway Company
who closed it in 1854, filled it in and layed track along its route. A very small
part of the canal remains today and can be seen at Port Elphinstone, by Inverurie.

The railway from the south reached Aberdeen in 1850, and terminated at Ferry Street
station. About the same time, the Great North of Scotland Railway Company (GNSR)
started construction on a local network to serve Aberdeenshire, Banff and on to Inverness.
The first local railway from Aberdeen (to Banchory) was opened in 1853 by the Aberdeen
and Deeside Railways company. The next 20 years saw rapid expansion of the
local railway network.

By the 1870s the network was largely complete. The main branches were:

Aberdeen via Deeside to Ballater

Aberdeen via the Don to Kintore and Inverurie, then via Huntly to Keith, Elgin, Forres,
Nairn and Inverness.

Kintore to Kemnay

Inverurie to OldMeldrum

Inverurie to Turriff and Banff

Dyce to Ellon then via Maud and Strichen to Fraserburgh

Ellon to Cruden Bay and Boddam

Maud to Peterhead

The railway network existed largely unchanged until the 1960s when it was
decemated. The only lines remaining out of Aberdeen are the main line to the south
and the single track line to Inverness. Some parts of the old railway track beds
are now public walking tracks.